“Going out?” Fatimah leaned into Kim’s cubicle.
“Yup, with Xian and his cousins from Manila.” Kim powdered her face.
A week had passed since their friends’ wedding and she had since forgotten about Xian’s unusual behavior in church.
“You’re pretty enough, lah.”
“I want to look decent for his cousins, lah.” Kim smiled, mimicking her friend’s accent.
After dabbing on some lip gloss and smoothing her hair, she waved to Fatimah as she made her way to the elevator. Xian was waiting in the lobby as Kim emerged from the throng of employees exiting the elevators.
“Hi Kim.” Xian smiled as he kissed his girlfriend’s cheek.
Kim smiled and held on to his arm as they got out of the Maybank Tower to cross the street.
“Where will we meet them?”
“At KLCC. They wanna see Petronas at night. Syempre, they wanna meet you.”
“Baka kung ano nang pinagsasabi mo tungkol sa ‘kin ha.” Kim glanced up at him.
“Syempre yung totoo. That you’re beautiful, caring, amazing…” His eyes danced with amusement.
“Bolero,” Kim pouted, lightly pinching his arm.
“Excited na silang makilala ka.” Xian lifted his arm and placed it around her shoulder, pulling her near as they passed by street hawkers selling payung (umbrellas) and gold-plated bracelets and necklaces.
At Plaza Rakyat station they took a train ride to the next station at Hang Tuah. From there, they’d transfer to a different train that would take them to KL Sentral. Then, onto another train to get to KLCC where the famous Petronas Twin Towers sit.
At this hour, the trains were packed with commuters, oblivious to the young couple, all interlocked hands and dreamy eyes, wrapped in their own private bubble.
“Xian!” A plump lady in her late twenties smiled broadly, her arms outstretched. They were inside Suria KLCC, an upscale mall which is literally underneath the Petronas Towers.
“Ate Liz! Long time!” Xian bent down to give her a tight hug. Behind Ate Liz was a younger girl almost Kim’s age and a teenage boy. Xian released Liz to hug them both.
“This is Kim.”
“Hi.” Kim felt shy. She offered her hand to Liz but found herself in a tight hug. “I’ve heard so much about you,” Liz whispered in her ear. Kim could only smile.
“This is Elaine… and Emerson.” Xian introduced his two younger cousins. They took turns hugging Kim. “They’re all huggers,” Kim thought, easily warming up to them.
Dinnertime at Nando’s Restaurant was a lively affair. Kim readily joined in the cousins’ easy banter, with Emerson occasionally cracking jokes and Xian teasing Elaine about her new suitor.
“O kayong dalawa, any wedding plans in the near future?” Ate Liz wanted to know. Kim blushed and glanced at her boyfriend beside her. Xian reached for Kim’s hand beneath the table and held it firmly.
